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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Religious Studies in Illinois

26 Ranked Colleges
$31,100 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Religious Studies is the 90th most popular major in the country with 9,039 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , religious studies graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $34,289 and had an average of $30,539 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 184 religious studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $46,468 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois” ranking analyzed 26 colleges that offered a degree in religious studies. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their religious studies program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois religion students.

Top 26 Most Focused Colleges for Religious Studies in Illinois

1
American Islamic College crest
American Islamic College
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Islamic College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 4 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 2 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full American Islamic College Religious Studies Report

1
Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies crest
Spertus College
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Spertus College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 44 diplomas to qualified ’s religion students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Religious Studies at Spertus College

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois list. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lisle, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Northern Baptist Theological Seminary Religious Studies Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hebrew Theological College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois. Skokie, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s religion degrees to 36 students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Hebrew Theological College Religious Studies Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Chicago Theological Seminary. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 18 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Religious Studies at Chicago Theological Seminary

6

Meadville Lombard Theological School came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois ranking. Meadville Lombard Theological School is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Meadville Lombard Theological School Religious Studies Report

7
Principia crest
Principia College
Elsah, Illinois

Principia College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #7. Principia College is a small school located in Elsah, Illinois that handed out 2 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Religious Studies at Principia College

8
Greenville crest
Greenville University
Greenville, Illinois

Greenville University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois ranking. Greenville is located in Greenville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Religious Studies at Greenville

9

Trinity International University - Illinois ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois list. Located in Deerfield, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified ’s religion students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Trinity International University - Illinois Religious Studies Report

10
Augustana crest
Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois

Augustana College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Rock Island, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified ’s religion students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Religious Studies at Augustana College

11
Lake Forest crest
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, Illinois

With a ranking of #11, Lake Forest College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois list. Lake Forest College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lake Forest, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Religious Studies at Lake Forest College

12
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois ranking. Olivet Nazarene is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Religious Studies at Olivet Nazarene University

13
Bradley crest
Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, Bradley University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois list. Bradley University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Peoria, Illinois. It awarded 6 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Bradley University Religious Studies Report

14
Illinois Wesleyan crest
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, Illinois

Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois ranking. Illinois Wesleyan is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bloomington, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Religious Studies at Illinois Wesleyan University

15
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University, Chicago landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois ranking. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s religion degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Religious Studies at Concordia University, Chicago

16
North Central crest
North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

North Central College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois ranking. North Central College is located in Naperville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Religious Studies at North Central College

17
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois list. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 12 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 99%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Religious Studies at Northwestern

18
Lewis crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois

Lewis University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois ranking. Lewis University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Romeoville, Illinois. It awarded 1 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Lewis Religious Studies Report

19

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois list. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UIUC Religious Studies Report

20
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

With a ranking of #20, Aurora University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois list. Aurora University is located in Aurora, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Religious Studies at Aurora University

21
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 1 ’s religion degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Religious Studies at DePaul University

22
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois ranking. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 99%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Religious Studies at University of Chicago

23
Elmhurst crest
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois

With a ranking of #23, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois list. Elmhurst University is located in Elmhurst, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Religious Studies at Elmhurst University

23
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McKendree University
Lebanon, Illinois

McKendree University ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois list. Located in Lebanon, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 0 degrees to qualified ’s religion students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full McKendree University Religious Studies Report

23
SXU crest
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #23. SXU is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 ’s religion degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Religious Studies at SXU

23
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Religion Major in Illinois list. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on Religious Studies at Loyola University Chicago

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References

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